Laguna fights to 2-2 tie

Laguna Beach Soccer Club’s boys’ Under-10 team played high-scoring

and host San Juan Capistrano to a 2-2 tie at Rancho Capistrano Park.

Laguna limited a San Juan squad that had averaged six goals a

game, to just two scores.

In compiling a 7-1 record coming into the match, San Juan had

given up just eight total goals in eight matches.

Coach Andy Thomas’ Under-10 team has defeated well-established and

renowned club soccer teams in two of its last three games.

San Juan attacked the Laguna goal early, but keeper Austin Paxson

came up with several key saves to keep the game scoreless.

Minutes later, Laguna forward Marc Hughes took a pass from Michael

Kimball, slipped behind a San Juan defender, and placed a one-touch

volley into the corner of the San Juan net to give Laguna a 1-0 lead.

Behind the defensive efforts of sweeper Paolo Noppenberger and

fullbacks Christian Menes, Zack Le Bon, Logan Warren and Luke Barker,

Laguna was able to shutout San Juan en route to a 1-0 halftime lead.

An odd scoring play at the start of the second half propelled

Laguna into a 2-0 lead.

Midfielder Brian Vail intercepted a pass and found Miguel Jaimes

just outside the San Juan 18-yard box. Jaimes sent a solid shot

toward the goal, which deflected off the head of a San Juan defender

and into the net.